1,000 Toys for Santa Project Needy Kids
Annual Holiday Effort Motivates Volunteers, Donors to Give Back
By Tim Gaskin

Nov 26 | archive | subscribe

The season of giving has arrived. For the third consecutive year, The Sawdust Shop is doing right by others in a big way. Silicon Valley’s only full-service, high-tech woodworking campus and retail outlet has again partnered with the California Santa Project to make toys – and lots of them – for local homeless kids.

The California Santa Project was created 10 years ago to bring together local businesses and resources to provide toys for kids in homeless shelters throughout San Jose.

 “Last year we made more than 500 wooden toys,” said Craig Colvin, owner of The Sawdust Shop who has been involved in the project since opening his woodworking campus in 2005. “Our goal this year is to build 1,000 toys. To make this many toys requires a lot of volunteers and material, and we appreciate the support of the community.”

Under the instruction of professional woodworkers at The Sawdust Shop, volunteers will produce a variety of great gift items during the holidays, including game boards like Bowling, Mancala and Shut The Box, as well as a Bug Barn, Truck and Cars, and Buzzsaw.

To bring his vision to reality, Colvin said it’s all about the volunteers first. Toy building workshops are available on the following days and times. Additional dates will be added throughout the holiday season.

Individuals, groups and families are encouraged to drop by for some seasonal fun to build toys in Santa’s workshop. No previous woodworking experience is necessary. Children ages eight and older are welcome when accompanied by and adult.

The toy building workshops are held at The Sawdust Shop, 452 Oakmead Parkway in Sunnyvale. A unique concept combining woodworking education and retail supplies. Offering a variety of woodworking classes, a do-it-yourself woodshop, and a comprehensive woodworking retail store. sawdustshop
California Santa Project californiasanta.com